S. Africa president reappoints Mantashe mines minister
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced his new Cabinet and reappointed Gwede Mantashe as mines minister, leaving him in charge of overseeing the coal and manganese industries but taking away Eskom from his portfolio.
The new cabinet was eagerly anticipated following the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU), which includes 11 political parties after the African National Congress lost its long-held majority in the national elections in May.
Ramaphosa late Sunday announced the separation of the mineral resources and energy portfolios, with Mantashe appointed minister of mineral and petroleum resources and Kgosientsho Ramokgopa picked as minister of the newly merged electricity and energy. Ramokgopa will have oversight of the troubled state utility Eskom.
The deputy minister of mineral and petroleum resources is Judith Nemadzinga‐Tshabalala, a member of the ANC and deputy minister of water and sanitation since March 2023. She replaces Nobuhle Nkabane, who has been appointed the minister of higher education.
The deputy minister of electricity and energy is Samantha Graham, a member of the investor-friendly Democratic Alliance (DA).
The DA also secured a post for Dion George as minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, who will take over from Barbara Creecy. Creecy was appointed minister of transport, overseeing state-run Transnet.
The ANC’s Enoch Godongwana will continue to serve in the critical role of finance minister.
Political parties negotiated cabinet positions for more than two weeks, with reports that the new coalition government was on the verge of collapse due to internal disagreements.
“We have shown that there are no problems that are too difficult or too intractable that they cannot be solved through dialogue,” Ramaphosa said in his Cabinet announcement late Sunday.
Ramaphosa said the incoming government will prioritise rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and tackling poverty and inequality.
“We have had to ensure that the incoming government will be effective, and that it will have people with the experience, skills and capabilities to deliver on its mandate,” he said. “It is important that we deploy into positions of responsibility people who are committed, capable and hard-working, and who have integrity.”
Gwede Mantashe was first appointed minister of mineral resources in 2018 and appointed minister of mineral resources and energy when the portfolios were merged a year later in 2019.
As an ANC stalwart and general secretary, Mantashe wields great power within the party and his reappointment comes as no surprise even amid fierce criticism over his performance as minister.
Mantashe is well-known for his pro-coal stance, which critics say has come at the expense of the renewable energy roll-out which has been frustrated under his watch.
While Mantashe did unlock self-generation of green power when lifting the cap for companies to 100 MW in 2022, he only did so at the behest of Ramaphosa.
In mining, Mantashe has failed to arrest the decline of South Africa’s mineral resources sector, with the country’s share of global mining exploration budgets dropping below 1%. Among the deterrents to investment is the lack of a cadastre – a transparent mining rights database – something which Mantashe’s department only recently finalized a tender for following years of industry frustration.
Business Unity South Africa (Busa) congratulated members of the new Cabinet and assured them of the “unwavering support of business” should they act in the best interests of the country.
Busa CEO designate, Khulekani Mathe, said business hopes to continue working with the government in the public-private partnerships that have reduced load shedding, improved transport and logistics infrastructure and operations, and is strengthening the national capacity to tackle crime and corruption. “Over 130 chief executives have pledged their ongoing commitment to this partnership, which has unlocked infrastructure and operational constraints to inclusive economic growth,” Mathe added.